Illuminated sign



USS REFERENCE SEARCH R5 0! June 4, 1968 P. o. ELFSTROM ILLUMINATED SIGN 7.1 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 7, 1966 FIG. 2.

INVENTOR. PH/L A D. EL PST/e044,

June 4, 1968 P. o. ELFSTROM ILLUMINATED SIGN :3 Sheets-Sheet 2 PH/L 0 12V 52. :s 7790M Filed Jan. 7, 1966 w Wm. M M

3,386,197 ILLUMINATED SIGN Philip D. Elfstrom, 1302 Barney Ave, Flint, Mich, 48503 Filed Jan. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 519,339 8 Claims. (Cl. 440-432) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An illuminated sign consisting of a housing having transparent panels carrying indicia. Elongated lamp bulbs are mounted in the housing. Transparent conduits containing colored liquid surround the bulbs and cause the light transmitted from the bulbs through the transparent panels to be correspondingly colored. The liquid may be caused to rise by means of a pump, producing a colorchange effect. The transparent sign panels may be hollow, having corrugated walls, and the colored liquid may be moved through the spaces defined by the corrugations.

This invention relates to display devices, and more particularly to illuminated signs of the type employing colored liquids to provide color effects.

A. main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved illuminated sign which is relatively simple in construction, which provides novel and interesting lighting efiects, and which is very economical to operate.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved illuminated sign of the type employing colored liquids to produce unusual and spectacular lighting effects, the sign being inexpensive to fabricate, being durable in construction, being automatic in operation, and being easy to install.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved visual display device of the type employing colored liquids to provide color-change effects, the display device being relatively compact in size, being relatively light in weight, being cool in operation and requiring a minimum amount of maintenance so that it can operate over long periods of time and under wide variations in weather conditions.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of one form of illuminated sign constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view, with parts broken away and parts in separated positions of another form of illuminated sign assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical cross-sectional view taken through an end portion of the liquid reservoir of the illuminated sign assembly of FIGURE 2 and including the automatic pumpcontrol switch employed in the assembly;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of panel assembly which may be employed in place of the panel assembly of FIGURE 4 in a sign according to the present invention and arranged for the utilization of two differently-colored fluids adapted to flow simultaneously in the panel;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal Patented June 4, 1968 cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 77 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a further modification of a colored fluid sign panel constructed t in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged elevational view of the switch-actuating member employed in the modification of FIGURES 2 and 3, said view being taken substantially on line 99 of FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES l and 7, 11 generally designates one form of illuminated sign constructed in accordance with thepresent invention. The illuminated sign 11 comprises a generally rectangular base plate 12 of any suitable rigid supporting material to the ends of which are secured respective upstanding vertical wall plates 13 which may be connected, if so desired, by a horizontal top cover plate, not shown, similar to the base plate 12 so as to define a generally rectangular frame or enclosure. The

opposite sidewalls of the enclosure may be defined by respective translucent panels 14, 14 of translucent plastic material or other similar rigid translucent material on which may be inscribed the advertising or other information to be carried by the sign. The sign panels 14 may. be retained in the assembly by having their edges received in suitable grooves 15 formed in the plate elements con stituting the main frame or main enclosure of the assembly, namely, the plate elements 12 and 13, and a top wall plate, if such is employed.

The interior of the assembly above-described is provided with suitable socket means for receiving one or more horizontally-arranged conventional or elongated lamp bulbs 16 of any suitable type. Surrounding the bulbs is a grid or framework of transparent conduits through which suitable colored liquid may flow, the framework being thus interposed between the bulbs 16 and the translucent or transparent sign panels 14, 14. In the arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 1, respective top and bottom longitudinally-extending main conduits 18 and 19 are provided, said conduits being connected by a series of spaced transversely-extending oppositely-db rected pairs of branch arms 20, 20 each pair of branch arms 20, 20 combining to make up a generally rectangular, vertically-elongated frame around the elongated bulbs 16, 16 with the vertical arms of the frame extending parallel and inwardly-adjacent to the respective sign panel members 14, 14. As shown in FIGURE 1, a substantial number of such vertically-elongated rectangular frame elements are provided, spaced along the top and bottom conduits 18 and 19 so as to define a grid or network of transparent tubes or conduits surrounding the bulbs 16,

16. Suitable colored liquid is admitted into the bottom portion of the network through a vertical conduit 21 communicatively-connected to the mid-portion of the bottom frame conduit 19. An outlet conduit 22 is connected to one end of the top main frame conduit 18. Conduit 22 leads to the intake of a suitable centrifugal pump, not shown, whereas the outlet of said pump leads to the colored liquid-supply conduit 21. In operation of the form of illuminated sign shown in FIGURE 1, the

pump forces colored liquid into the bottom portion of the conduit network or grid and the liquid is moved upwardly through the arms 20-, displacing air through the top conduit 18. When the pump stops, the liquid gra'vitates back through the conduit grid and into the conduit 21. The movement of the colored liquid upwardly through the arms 20 produces an interesting shimmering visual effect which attracts attention and enhances the advertising force of the sign.

The main conduits 18 and 19 and the tube elements may be made of any suitable transparent tubing material, such as plastic tubing, or the like.

Referring now to the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, 11 generally designates the sign assembly, said assembly comprising a suitable generally rectangular enclosure including opposite spaced parallel. main panel assemblies 12, 12 which are secured at their bottom margins to a bottom plate 30. A suitable top cover plate (not shown) may be provided, if so desired. Also, the enclosure will be provided with vertical opposite end walls, not shown, which may be similar to the end walls 13 employed in the form of the invention shown in FIGURE 1. Suitably-mounted between said end walls are a plurality of horizontal vertically-spaced elongated lamp bulbs 16 which may be located substantially in the longitudinal vertical central plane of the assembly and which are suitably-located to illuminate the opposite main panel members 12, 12.

Each panel assembly 12' comprises a translucent or transparent inner plate member 31 integrally-formed with top and bottom longitudinally-extending channels 32 and 33, facing outwardly, as shown in FIGURE 2. The panels 31, 31, are formed with the outwardly-projecting top and bottom horizontal longitudinal flanges 34, and secured to each outwardly-facing surface of each panel 31 between the top and bottom flanges 34 and 35 thereof is a vertically-corrugated translucent or transparent sign panel 36. The sign panels 36 are rigidly-united to the outwardly-facing surfaces of the flat panel portions 31, between the flanges 34, 35 in any suitable manner, as by'suitable cement, or by heat-fusion, whereby the corrugated panels 36 are sealingly-secured at their inner crests to the outwardly-facing surfaces of the panel ele ments 31, with the corrugations in communication with. the top and bottom channels 32, 33. The respective ends of the channels 32, 33 terminate short of the opposite vertical end edges 37, 37 of the corrugated panels, so that the ends of the corrugated panels 36 are sealed to themain panels 3.1. Also, the top and bottom edges of the corrugated panels 36 are sealingly-united with the top and bottom. flanges 34 and .35, so that each panel assembly 12' represents a sealed enclosure which is liquidtight.

Secured beneath the main bottom plate 30- is a liquid reservoir 38 adapted to contain a supply of suitablycolored liquid, one end of the reservoir 38 being suitablyconnected to the intake port of an electrically-driven centrifugal pump 39 mounted in a compartment 40 forming an extension of the tank 38, the compartment 40 being separated from the main portion of the tan-k 38 by a transverse partition wall 41. The outlet port of the pump 39 is connected by a conduit 42 through a T-fitting 43 and respective supply conduits 44, 44 to the lower longitudinally-extending corrugations 33 of the respective opposite panel elements 31. The top corrugations 32 are connected by conduits 45 and a T-fitting 46 to a return conduit 47 which leads to the tank 38. The pump 39 thus forces colored liquid upwardly through the panel assemblies 12', 12, displacing air back into the tank 38 through the return conduit 47. The electric motor 49 of the pump is arranged to be automatically-controlled. in accordance with the level of the colored liquid 50 in the tank 38 so that the pump becomes de-energized when the liquid rises to a predetermined upper-level limit and remains de-energized until sufiicient liquid drains back into the tank 38 to reach a predetermined lower-limit-- ing height. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 3, a controlswitch assembly 51 is mounted in the compartment 40, said control-switch assembly including a conventional. toggle switch 52 having the operating arm 53. A float 54 is connected to a lever arm 55 which is pivoted in a bracket 56 secured to the partition wall 41, the arm being provided at its outer portion with a rod-like extension 57 carrying a vertical yoke 58 having fingers S9, 59 disposed above and below the switch-operating arm 53. The switch 52 is connected in series with the motor 49, and the series circuit is connected to a suitable supply of electric current. When switch 52 is closed, namely, when the level of liquid 50 in the tank 38 drops to the previously-mentioned low-level limit, the pump 39 forces liquid upwardly through the panel assemblies 12. When the supply of liquid 50 rises to the upper-level limit, the arm 55 pivots counterclockwise, as viewed in FIGURE 3, sufiiciently to cause the upper finger 59 to trip the switch arm 53, opening the switch 52 and de-energizing the pump 39. The pump remains de-energized until suflicient liquid has drained back into the tank 38 to rotate arm 55 clockwise, as viewed in FIGURE 3, sufiiciently to cause the lower yoke finger 59 to again trip the switchoperating arm 53, causing the pump 39 to again become energized and resume the pumping of the colored liquid upwardly through the panel assemblies 12. The upward movement of the colored liquid through the corrugations of panels 36 produces an interesting and highly-attractive visual effect. The sign information carried on the corrugated panels is thereby illuminated in an interesting and spectacular manner which causes the sign to command a considerable amount of attention.

As shown in FIGURE 9, the switch-operating yoke fingers 5'9, 59 are themselves adjustably-mounted on a yoke main supporting channel 60 by the provision of fastening bolts 61, 61 which connect the base arms 62 of the right-angled finger elements 59 to the channel shaped main yoke member 60, said yoke member 60 being provided with longitudinally-elongated slots 63 through which the bolts 61 extend. This enables the finger elements 59 to be adjusted longitudinally of the channelshaped main yoke member 60. This provides adjustment as to the points of operation of switch 52 with reference to the top and bottom limiting levels of the liquid 50 in the tank 58.

FIGURES 5 and 6 illustrate a modified form of panel assembly which may be employed in an illuminated sign according to the present invention wherein two digerentcolored liquids are simultaneously moved upwardly between the opposite transparent or translucent outward-lyfacing panel elements 70, 70 of the sign. The panel elements 7t), 70 carry the information, such as the advertising message which the sign is intended to convey. The panel elements 70, 70 are each provided with top and bottom longitudinally-extending conduit channels '71,- and a translucent'. or transparent vertically-corrugated panel 72 is cemented between the outer fiat panels 70, 70 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6. The corrugations serve as ducts connecting the top and bottom longitudinal channels 71. Respective diiierently-colored liquids are moved through the passages dened on the opposite sides of the intermediate corrugated panel 72, the liquid being admitted through respective conduits 73 and 74 connected to the bottom longitudinally-extending channels 71, 71. Suitable displaced air-return conduits are provided at the top longitudinal channels, said return conduits lea-ding to respective reservoirs containing the colored fluids, a suitable centrifugal pump being provided between each reservoir and the respective supply conduits 73 and 74 for forcing the two fluids simultaneously upwardly through the sign. The arrangement .of FIGURES 5 and 6 enables interesting colored effects to be obtained, for example, varying color combinations. Thus, a yellow liquid may be pumped upwardly between the rear panel 70 and the corrugated panel 72 in FIGURE 5, and a blue liquid may be pumped upwardly between the front panel 70 and the corrugated panel '72. Difftferent color effects are obtained when the yellow liquid drains out, when the blue liquid drains out, and when both liquids are again parent or translucent material carries the sign informa tion and a. molded transparent or translucent panel 81 is secured to the fiat panel 80, the moldedpanel 81 being provided with top and bottom conduit channels 82 and 83 connected by vertical corrugations 84. The bottom channel 83 is furnished with colored liquid from a supply conduit 85 extending from the outlet of a suitable pump, and the top conduit 82 is provided with a suitable displaced air-return conduit, not shown, which leads to the liquid reservoir. Panel assemblies such as that illustrated in FIGURE 8 may be substituted for the respective panel assemblies 12 in FIGURE 2. The double-color liquid arrangement of the panel assembly of FIGURE 5 may be utilize-d instead of the single-color liquid arrangement employed in FIGURE 2, namely, the panel assemblies such as that shown in FIGURE 5 may be substituted for the panel assemblies 12 in. FIGURE 2, with the necessary addition of an additional reservoir, pump and float-com trolled switch for the additional colored-liquid system.

The return displacement-air conduit means employed in the above-described sign assemblies (conduit 22 in FIGURE 1, and conduit 47 in FIGURE 2) provides means for required air displacement without the need for providing vent holes in the reservoir which could allow dirt to' pass into the system. Said conduit means also serve as overflow means in the event of a malfunction of the associated pump or its control elements.

The reservoir tank and the pump and control housing need not-necessarily be attached to the bottom of the associated sign or display. It may be attached to a wall, as in the case of a fiat single-faced sign, or a double-faced projecting sign, or it may be attached to any supporting member, as in the case of column signs. The reservoir may also be installed above the sign. or display. In this case, gravity would cause the liquid to fill the sign, and the pump action would be arranged reverse to that above-described, with the corresponding required switching arrangements.

The lighting means employed may be of any suitable type, suchas fluorescent bulbs, neon tubes or bulbs, incandescent lamps, or the like.

The liquid-flow illuminated sign assemblies abovedescribed may be employed for a wide range of types of displays, including arrangements for indicating weather conditions by change of colors, for conveying other information, for creating semi-transparent or semi-opaque eifects, or the like.

While certain specific embodiments of an improved illuminated sign assembly have been disclosed in the fore going description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the inventiommay occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope or the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An illuminated sign assembly comprising a support, a sign panel assembly mounted on said support, said sign panel assembly being made of light-transmitting material and being provided with sign indicia, a light source mounted on the support inwardly adjacent said sign. panel assembly, said sign panel assembly comprising a first trans parent panel formed with side-by-side corrugations extending substantially for the full height of the sign panel assembly and a transparent second panel sealingly-secured over said corrugations, defining transparent conduit means extending from the top to the bottom portions of the sign panel assembly, and being adapted to contain colored liquid for modifying the light transmitted therethrough from the light source to the sign panel assembly, and channel means connecting the top and bottom portions of said corrugations.

2. The illuminated sign assembly of claim 1, and wherein said conduit means is provided with an inlet at the bottom portion thereof and an air-displacement outlet at the topv portion thereof, whereby the colored liquid may be moved upwardly therethrough.

3. The illuminated sign assembly of claim 2, and a liquid reservoir, conduit means connecting said air-displacement outlet to said reservoir, and a liquid-circulating pump connected between said reservoir and said inlet.

4. The illuminated sign assembly of claim 3, and means to operate said pump responsive to the drop in level of the liquid in the reservoir to a predetermined lower-limiting height, and means to terminate operation of the pump responsive to the rise in liquid level in the reservoir to a predetermined upper-level limit.

5. The illuminated sign assembly of claim 1, and wherein said last-named channel means comprises respective horizontal longitudinal channels integrally-formed in the top and bottom portions of said last-named transparent panel.

6. The illuminated sign assembly of claim 4, and wherein said pump is provided with an electric motor having an energizing circuit, said means to operate the pump comprising level-responsive switch means connected in said energizing circuit and provided with level-sensing means in the reservoir.

7. The illuminated sign assembly of claim 6, and wherein said switch means comprises a toggle switch having a vertically-movable operating arm, a float in said reservoir, a lever pivoted to said reservoir and connected at one end References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/ 19.23 Houghton 40---106.21 11/1932 Burrell et al. 24046.15 X

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

R. CARTER, Assistant Examiner. 

